Body construction for streetsweeping machines



April 25,, 195@ c. w. MQTT 2,505,199

BODY CONSTRUCTION FOR STREET SWEEPING MACHINES I Filed Feb. 9, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l .fnVEnf Jr" CA RL W M077 Apfil 25,1950 c. w. MOTT BODY CONSTRUCTION FOR STREET SWEEPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9. 194a 4 She'e'ts-Sfieet 3 Z8 18 i 25 44 u 21 25 '10:" I

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V CAR W MOT? b Hi2 April 25, 1950 c. w. MOTT 5 9 BODYfCONSTRUCTION FOR STREET SWEEPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 9, 194a 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JZYk EH Tar CARL W. MOTT 27 Patented Apr. 25, 1950 BODY CONSTRUCTION EOBSTREET- SWEEPING MACHINES Carl; W; Mott, La Grange, Ilb, assignor to Elgin Sweeper Company; Elgin, 111., a corporation of Il noi Application February 9, 1946; Serial No. 646,525

Claims. (01. 15435) This invention relates to improvements in street sweeping machines, and more especially to machines of this kind which are self-propelled.

Street sweeping machines have customarily been relativelyheav'y, massive and of expensive, complex construction so that the initial and upkeep cost have been; high. In the smaller sizes of prior sweepers, moreover, the capacity and efficiency of the machines have not been up to What might be desired.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a small size or baby sweeping machine Which can be produced and sold at low cost but which will nevertheless have a capacity and possess operating efiiciency as great as' or superior to much larger prior types of street sweeping machines;

Another object of the invention is to provide a street sweeping machine which is of unusually light weight construction and wherein a number ofu'nique structural; features and relationships contribute toward such result. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a small size street sweeping machine in which an unusual compactness of structural and operating features is attained. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a small size street sweeping machine. which can be produced and sold at a low price and which will operate at high efficiency and exceptionally low operating costs.

A still further object, of the invention is to rev se a n w nd. mpr v d treet w e in m chih'e that is adapted to be built la igely'fr'om s ee me without the ne d for any addition main structurev for supporting the operating mechanisms of the machine. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide new and improved means in a street sweeping ac for g bcr es s nss and t render the dumping of accumulated sweepings' quick and simple. d A e Another and further object of the invention is to provide a new and in proved -street swee ing machine having novel facilities for dispdsal of sweepings, H K I it is a still further object of the invention to pr iole in a t e wee ernqve l mpdci r and per n mech ni m the et e e danee i h th gen r a ur s, h tiqn. a su ended fbabr t pe f tree ins machine s ret tl d i which a f ont f j me mean d b. tru tu e. s a em l .ft are: man. were their housin strictu e. which is constructed virtually entirely from sheet 2 metal plates and is carried by the driving wheel structure. According to other general features of the invehtion, the. main broom housing, in addition to providing ample operating space for the main sweeping broom, serves also to support in compact arrangement a rearwardl inclined dirt box having its upper end located above the main broom to receive sweepings therein as deposited by a reciprocably mounted dirt bucket, and hav-- ing its lower end located in the ta l extremity of the sweeper housing where it i designed to facilitate dumping of accumulated sweeping's and is closed by a rearwardly swinging dump door. There is also provided a compact arrangement of the sprinkling water tank and hose compartment above the dirt box and afiording the top wall of the latter. I

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved pressure fluid operated mechanism, preferably hydraulic, and including a compound leverage disposed at the opposite sides of the rear portion or the broom housing structure for actuating the d rt to: dump door. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connect on with the accompanying four sheets of drawings in which: 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, in certain respects schematic, of a small size self-propelled street sweeping machine embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a slightly eplarged horizontal sectional view through the machine taken substan-. tially along the line II-{II of Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a reduced Scale, more or less scheinatic vertical sectional v iew, taken in substantially the plane of line III-III of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmental vertical sectionalview taken in substantially the plane of line IV IV of Fig. 2 through the. rear axle and wheel assernbly. l I V Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sec tional view taken substantially along the line V r-V of Fig. 3, and showing details of the dump door operating mechanisin. Y

Figure 6 is a substantially enlarged fragmentary side elevational and sectional View of the p F r and w h. m y e c s de d. a ta n substantially along the line VI'VI 0f Fig.5

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on substantially the plane of line VII-VII of Fig. 6, Described generally, a baby street sweeper embodying the features of the present invention comprises a front engine or power section I3 (Fig. l) and a rear or sweeping section II. The power section It comprises an operators cab I2 and a forward engine housing I3 carried by a supporting frame or chassis I4 and is mounted for travel upon a front, steerable wheel I5 which may be a single wheel on a aster type of mount. The forward portion of the sweeping section I I is secured in mutually supporting relation to the contiguous portion of the cab I2 and the chassis frame I 4. At its lower rear portion the sweeping section I I is supported by a pair of driving wheels I! mounted for rotation upon a transverse axle I8.

According to the present invention, the sweeping section I I comprises a combined housing and frame formed from sheet metal, the principal members of which are substantially symmetrically formed left and right side plates I 9 and 23, respectively, and a top plate 2I (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). The side plates I9 and 20 are formed with upper inwardly extending right angular reinforcing and supporting flanges 22, respectively, to which the side margins of the top plate are preferably secured as by welding. This provides a substantially inverted U-shaped housing, the forward margins'of which are appropriately attached to the cab structure I2 and the engine supporting frame I 4. The lower forward portions of the side plates I9 and 23 are preferably provided with respective forward wing extensions 23 for this purpose. No rear wall, as such, need be provided since the rear portion of the top plate 2I 0f the sweeper housing is for this purpose appropriately curved streamline fashion downwardly cooperatively with the rear edge portions of the side plates.

Support Of the sweeping housing is effected directly by the axle I8 through the medium of sleeves 24 (Fig. 4) carried by the axle inwardly of the wheels II, each of the sleeves 24 being provided with a radial flange 25 connected as by means of rivets 21 to the contiguous margins of the associated side plates I9 or 20, as the case may be. Additional reinforcement for the supporting area of each of the respective side plates is provided by a segmental flange 28 secured as by rivets 29 to the associated supporting sleeve 24 and making engagement with the associated side plate through an angle bracket 30 carried by the side plate.

Propulsion of the machine is effected in any preferred manner, such for example as by individual chain drives 3Ifor the wheels I'I acting to drive the respective wheels through sprockets 32 attached to brake drums 33.

, Within the sweeping housing provided by the rigidly united side plates I9 and 2B and the top plate 2| is operatively disposed a main sweeping broom 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) of preferably the cylindrical, rotary bristle type, a dirt bucket 35, a dirt box 33, a water tank 37, and various appurtenances to effectuate the operation and control of these various devices. 7

The main sweeping broom 34 is accommodated transversely within the lower portion of the sweeping housing I I and in compact relation im mediately forwardly of the axle I8 and partially between the wheels I'I. Side arms 38 carry the broom and are'pivotally secured at their forward ends to a rock shaft 39 by which the broom can be elevated for disposition out of service and which permits vertical adjustment of the broom to compensate for wear. In order to facilitate assembly of the broom 34 within the sweeping housing, each of the side plates I9 and 20 is formed with a lower longitudinal clearance cutout 40 so that the broom can be assembled or removed by longitudinal movement thereof laterally of the housing clear of the wheel IT at the side where such maneuver takes place. Means for driving the sweeper broom 34 rotatably counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 1 may comprise a sprocket chain 4! meshing with an appropriate sprocket 42 on the broom shaft.

The dirt bucket 35 is at least as Wide as the main broom 34 and is suspended rigidly at its ends by respective arms 43 with its mouth opening toward the broom and in such position immediately in front of the broom as to efficiently receive sweepings propelled thereinto by the broom. The bucket-supporting arms 43 arc over the space occupied by the broom 34 and are accommodated between the side plates I9 and 2G and the sides of the dirt box 36 at their rear ends, the arms 43 are secured fast upon radial flanges 44 on respective journalled sleeve brackets 45 rotatably and detachably mounted upon the axle I8 immediately inwardly of the side plate sleeve brackets 24. A retaining collar 46 may be disposed about the axle I8 at the inner end of the hub of the rotary bracket 45.

In the operation of the machine, the arms 43 are swung up periodically to dump the contents of the bucket 35 into the dirt box 36. For this purpose, each of the rotary brackets 45 has a rearwardly projecting bifurcated ear 4'! (Fig. 3) to the rear end portion of which is operatively connected a hydraulic actuator 48 in the form of a conventional cylinder and piston (Figs. 3 and 5), the upper end of the cylinder being supported pivotally by a pin structure 49 extending between and supported by the respective adjacent side plate I9 or 23 and the opposing side wall of the dirt box 36. For a more detailed description of the construction and operation of the dirt bucket 35, reference may be had to my copending applications Serial No. 680,041, filed June 28, 1946; and Serial No. 697,269, filed September 16, 1946 and now abandoned.

Means for guiding the dirt bucket 35 in the arcuate path which it describes in traveling from the dirt collecting position to the dumping position may comprise rollers 50 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted at the upper sides of the bucket and guidingly engaging arcuate bearing plates 5i mounted on the respective side plates I9 and 23.

In front of the operating path of the dirt bucket 34 isa dirt shield 53 which, as best seen in Figs.

- 1 and 3, preferably extends arcuately upwardly between the side plates I9 and 20 and to a point adjacent the top plate 2|. The shield 53 may be formed from a single sheet of metal and is secured to the side plates in any suitable fashion, as for example by means of appropriate angle irons 54 which are welded to the shield plate and to the respective side plates. In addition to serving as a dirt shield, the plate 53 also serves as a transverse forward reinforcement between the side plates and contributes in a substantial measure to the strength of the housing and supporting frame structure.

An efficient disposition of the dirt box 35 is attained by disposing the mouth thereof above the main broom 34 to provide an ample working space therefor and in such a position that when the dirt bucket 35 is elevated to dumping position, as indicated in broken outline in Fig. 3, the contents of the substantially inverted bucket will be reanon-too delved in the-dirt box. .At the upper-sides of the dirt 2-1901: 3 Glare laterally diverging guard wings .55 to receire the sides of the bucket therebetween and avoid side-spillof dirt dumped into the box.

From.its mouth, thedirt box 36 extends diag onally rearwarclly down over the main broom 34 .and over the axle 18 to the bottom rear extremity of the sweepin section .l.l where the dischatge end .of the dirtibox isclosed bya dump door. 56. lBypreference, the dump door 56.0011- stitutes a substantial lower-end extension of the dirt 110x35 whereby to increase the capacity -;of the dirt box, while at the same timehlending into the generalstreamline contour asthe Itail portion of the sweepingsection -.I l.

, The dump door 156 is mounted to be swung open rearwardly. and upwardly andis therefore hinged- 11y .secured'tc the rear edge or the top plate .21.. as by. means of a piano type hinge i5]. .The width of the dump door 5 5 is preferably such that the side edges of the dump door abut the rear edges of the side plates 19 and .20, substantially as indicated in Fig. 5. This .afiords space between the sides of the dirt box .35 and the inner side walls of the dump door or door-actuating mechanism. In the present instance, .such

mechanism includes a hydraulic operator .58 of cylinderand piston type, the cylinder of which is pivotally secured at 59 between the adjacent side plate and the dump box and the piston rod of which is piuotally secured through a knuckle Q60 and a pin 61 between a pair of parallel links 52. These links have their .forward Lends secured piyotally by a pin '53 between the inner side of the upper port onof the clump door sfianda rigid parallel inwardly spaced sup orting plate 154. From the piston rod connection 6.l.,,1the :pair of links 152, extends to a greater distance forwardly than th y do rearwardly and are secured .attheir forward ends by ,a pin fifipivotally to the end of a tilting "link 61, the opposite .end of which is secured fast upon the end .of .a connectin rook shafttll. By preference, the tiltinglink .65! leadillstable as to len thand for this purpose is pro vided as an assembly with an adjusting stud 59.. When "the piston rod OI the hydraulic operator 54B is protracted, the dump door operating linkage system assumes substantially the position :indicated inibroken outline to openthedum-p door 56 and swing it sufficiently high to assure complete discharge therefrom of dirt lodged therein from the bottom of the dirt box.

"Since the dump door 56 is. wider than the dirt box, a'shield 7!! (Figs. 5 and .7) is provided toextend diagonally inwardly from each side or the dump door .for engagement with the adjacent side ,of the dirt "box .for .confining the .sweep n descending from the lower end of the dirt box to the rearwardly bul ing receptacle portion of the dump door and prevent the sweepings tram crowding forwardly out of the dump door into the space between the dirt box and the tor-ward portionsof theside walls of the dump .door.

At it extremity, the dump door .55 substantially engages the lower corner extremity of the dirt box 36. 'flthus, a reasonably tight closure is provided by the dump door 5.6. and this is assured by the operation of the door -operating linkage system. By the particular relationship of the operating links 6.2 and 5.1, together with the connection 611, '51 with the hydraulic operator 58 disposed rearwardly of the center of the .62 hen the piston rod of the hydraulic operator is fu ly retracted. the linkage tightly draws the door 356 into closed relation to the dirt box. The

beyond-center connection of the operator and links 62 efiects :a substantially locked condition of-the lever system. In the closing of the-door .56, any slight looseness or sidewise deflection that .might cause faulty registration is-cured by the provision of interleaving guide fingers Hand 13 provided, respectively, on the inner side margin of the dump door and the adjacent side plate l9 or 20.

The space between the dirt box =36 and the rear portion of the top plate --2l of the housing is utilized for housing the-water tank 31. vIn fact, the bottom of the water tank 3! may,-.as shown, be utilized as the upper diagonal wall of the dirt box. By preference, also, the water-tank-3-l supports the dirt box .36 and for this purpose is provided with side plates 14, the respective lower margins of which extend below the bottom .of the water tank and are secured to the upper margin-s of the dirt box side walls as for example by riveting .15. The top wall of the water tank maybe the overlying and enclosing .portion of the top plate 2| of the housing and frame structure of the sweeping section. In this way, the water tank and the dirt box are substantially supported by the housing and frame structure through the top plate 2''! thereof. The dirt box 35 and the water tank 31 are preferably formed from sheet metal. Lateral stability of the .suspended dirt box and water tank structureand reinforcementof the entire sweeping section frame is afiorded by a transverse member 15 which may be a strong angle bar secured to the lowermost margin of the dirt box and rigidly attached at its ends to the inside of the side plates 19 and 2-0.

A space rearwardly of the lower end of the water tank 3'! and above the lower end of the dirt box 36 inside the upper portion of the dump door 56 is adapted to be utilized as a hose .com partment T! (Fig. 5) for supporting the hose (not shown) by which the water tank 3'! is filled from any available hydrant in the customary manner. The bottom of this compartment is defined by a floor plate18 and opposite side deflector plates 19. The floor plate 'lB serves also as the rear portion of the roof for the dirt box 35. Access into the hose compartment is preferably by wayof a hose compartment door 8!! (Fig. 2.) provided for this purpose in the upper portion of the dump door 56 and utilizing the central portion of the hinge 51. Thus, the hose compartment access door will swing with the dump door 55 in movmnents of the latter, but may be opened independently of the dump door when access is desired to the water tank filling hose, I

Appropriately shaped removable side guard plates 8.! and '82 .are mounted exteriorly of the housing side plates 19 and 21!, respectively, and provide an attractive enclosure for the wheels H and the drive chains 39 therefor, as well-as the sweeper broom supporting arms 38 and drive chain 4|. Each of the side closure plates '81 and 82 maybe constructed as a relatively rigid selfsustaining unit having a right angular reinforcing and spacer flange :33. Verticalstrut structure 84 extends up in supporting relation at the front end of .each oi the flanges 83 and is secured to the contiguous side plate.

.A splash guard in front of and partially overlying the main broom 34 may he provided by a plate .85 (Figs. v1, 2 and .3) which is suspended from the lip of the dirt box 36 by an integral rear-- wardly angled flange 86. Downwardly protecting pins .8] ion the flange engage loosely in appro priate apertures 88 in the dirt box lip and re-- strain the splash guard 85 against dislodgement. At its lower end the splash guard is connected to forwardly extending pivoted-side links 89 which are pivoted on the respective side plates i9 and 20 and hold the splash guard in proper forwardly inclined relation closely in front of the main broom 34.

When it is necessary to afford full clearance in front of the main broom for assembly or removal thereof, and the dirt bucket 35 has been elevated out of the way, the splash guard 35 is adapted to be swung forwardly into full clearance by pivotally swinging the lower end thereof up and forwardly on and with the links 89 from the full line to the broken line position shown in Fig. 3. In the course of such swinging of the splash guard its upper end portion slides freely on the dirt box lip, with the retaining pins 81 leaving their apertures 88 and returning thereto in accordance with the position of the splash guard.

While the splash shield 85 intercepts forward splash above the dirt bucket 35, the bottom wall of the dirt box 36 provides a rearward splash shield for the main broom space.

Suitable side guard shoes 38 may be mounted at the opposite sides of the sweeper broom 3t and extend forwardly therefrom to close the side spaces between the sweeper broom and the dirt bucket 35.

Forwardly of the dirt bucket 35, a rotary side broom 9| is preferably mounted to be driven by the same source of power as the main broom Ei i, in a manner disclosed in more detail in my copending application Serial No. 687,460, filed July 31, 1946. A dirt guard or bafile $2 extends in front and inside of the side broom 9i and. is carried by asupporting structure 93 depending from the sup porting frame I4.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a street sweeping machine of unusually compact, simple, and light weight construction. The novel structure of the sweeping section I i of the machine, which is made substantially entirely from relatively light weight sheet metal, contributes very largely to the improved results attained. Not only is the initial cost of the machine rendered relatively low by reason of the various economical relationship and devices provided in this machine but the upkeep details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A self-propelled street sweeping machine comprising, in combination, a front power unit and cab section including a supporting steerable wheel, a rear sweeping section including a substantially inverted U-shaped supporting frame and housing structure having its axis disposed longitudinally and secured to the front section and having a transverse supporting axle engaging the lower rear portion thereof and carrying propelling road wheels having driving connections with the power unit, a main sweeping broom disposed forwardly of said axle between the road wheels and having supporting arms and driving means connecting the same with said front section, a dirt bucket disposed forwardly of the main broom and having carrying arms pivotally mounted on said axle and adapted to swing the bucket arcuately upwardly inside of said housing into a substantially inverted position above said main broom, a dirt box supported by said housing structure and having its mouth above the main broom positioned to receive dirt dumped thereinto from said dirt bucket, the dirt box extending in a downwardly slanting rearward direction to the rear of said axle, a dump door mounted on said housing structure and swingable into and out of closing relation to the lower end of the dirt box, and means within the housing for actuating said dirt bucket and said dump door.

2. A self-propelled street sweeping machine comprising, in combination, a front power unit and cab section including a supporting steerable wheel, a rear sweeping section including a substantially inverted u-shaped supporting frame and housing structure secured to the front section and having a transverse supporting axle engaging the lower rear portion thereof and carrying machine-propelling road wheels having driving connection with the power unit, a main sweeping broom disposed forwardly of said axle between the road wheels and having supporting arms and driving means connecting the same with said front section, a dirt bucket disposed forwardly of the main broom and having carrying arms pivotally mounted on said axle and adapted to swing the bucket arcuately upwardly inside of said housing into a substantially inverted position above said main broom, a dirt box supported by said housing structure and having its mouth above the main broom positioned to receive dirt dumped thereinto from said dirt bucket, the dirt box extending in a downwardly slanting rearward direction to the rear of said axle, a dump door mounted on said housing structure and swingable into and out of closing relation to the lower end of the dirt box, means within the housing for actuating said dirt bucket and said dump door, and dirt shielding and splash guard means in spaced relation at the front and the rear of the path of movement of the dirt bucket.

3. In combination in a street sweeping machine of the character described, a substantially inverted U-shaped housing and frame structure including a top plate and a parallel pair of side plates, a dirt box structure suspended from said top plate and having the side walls thereof in spaced relation to said side plates, the dirt box having its lower wall spaced throughout at least its major extent above the lower edges of said side plates and cooperating with said side plates to provide a main sweeping broom space below said lower wall, a main sweeping broom extending transversely of the machine in the main sweeping broom space and a dirt bucket disposed on the discharge side of the main broom to receive the discharge therefrom and having supporting arms, said arms being located to swing up and down in the space between the dirt box and said side plates for carrying the dirt bucket from dirt collecting position into dumping positon at the top of the dirt box.

4. In combination in a street sweeping machine of the character described, a substantially inverted U-shaped housing and supporting structure including a top plate and a parallel pair of side plates, a dirt box structure suspended from said top plate and having the side walls thereof in spaced relation to said side plates, the dirt box having its lower wall spaced throughout at least its major extent above the lower edges of said side plates and cooperating with said side plates to provide a main sweeping broom space below said lower wall, a main sweeping broom extending transversely of the machine in the main sweeping broom space, a dirt bucket having supporting arms, said arms being located to swing up and down in the space between the dirt box and said side plates for carrying the dirt bucket from dirt collecting position on the discharge side of the sweeping broom into dumping position at the top of the dirt box, and means supported in said space between the housing and said dirt box side walls for actuating said supporting arms.

5. In combination in a street sweeping machine of the character described, a substantially inverted U-shaped housing including a top plate and a parallel pair of side plates, supporting wheels, an axle for said wheels and having journal means secured to said side plates and thereby supporting the housing, a dirt box structure suspended from said top plate having its mouth adjacent said top plate and having the side walls thereof in spaced relation to said side plates, the dirt box having its lower wall spaced above said axle and above the lower edges of said side plates to afford a main sweeping broom space below said lower wall, a main sweeping broom in said space, and a dirt bucket having supporting arms pivotally mounted on said axle and adapted 10 to swing up and down about the axis of said axle in the space between the dirt box and said side plates for carrying the dirt bucket from dirt collecting position on the discharge side of the sweeping broom space into dumping position at the mouth of the dirt box.

CARL W. MOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 371,722 Wright Oct. 18, 1887 136,520 Fisher Sept. 16, 1890 492,489 Williams Feb. 28, 1893 513,438 Palmer et a1 Jan. 23, 1894 581,312 Smith Apr. 27, 1897 681,514 Schumann Aug. 27, 1901 916,602 Seymour Apr. 20, 1909 981,653 Nepean-I-Iutchinson Jan. 17, 1911 996,730 Scott July 4, 1911 2,046,679 Furstnow July 7, 1936 2,199,703 Hough May 7, 1940 2,300,192 Allen Oct. 27, 1942 2,300,280 Teager Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,276 Denmark 1907 

